Today I saved a forrest!

This isn't a techie blog (there are plenty of great blogs out there on the Sony e-readers - and indeed other e-readers), but a blog to say that I've bought myself a new present. It's a treat for proving to people that I've actually been working - something PhD students are often accused of not doing! Not wanting to bang on about how hard a PhD is, I just want to say that mental exhaustion is a fair description!

I'm a huge book and article reader, so it's both practical and cost saving for me. I will save on hundreds of printed pages for reading journal articles by downloading them to the reader. It's not good for the eyes to read these pages off the computer, but with the the e-readers not being backlit it's not stressful on the eyes.

I've installed a load of book from different sites, and I've uploaded some photos and music to it too. The first book I read on it was A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift. A Modest Proposal is a short satirical book written in 1729, looking at how to make best use of the children of Ireland.

It going to save me 3 books worth of space for when I go on holiday - though I'll probably still take a paperback for the beaches (depending on where I go!) Just think of that, 2 extra shirts or an extra pair of shoes... woop... all hail the technological revolution.

Smug train journeys

I'm sat next to a guy on the train, who's revising for his Statistics A-Level.  I know this because I took Maths and Stats at A-Level.

Point being, he looks smug because he thinks he's doing something I don't understand. Whereas, I'm smug because I know he's doing something I don't understand!

Amazing what the mind forgets.

What do you want to drink?

It seems to me that I'm drinking a lot of "bad" things. It's either alcohol or coffee, coffee or alcohol.  I'm not even getting to eat with my drinks.

I shouldn't complain... I've a good job, great social life and wondeful girlfriend. My health is the best it's been for years, thanks to joining a leisure club (and actually playing tennis 3 times a week), but still... starting a ne job and joining a new club means you meet new people. Some become your friends and before you know it every available day and night is spent drinking in either coffee houses or bars.

It's the start of May. I've not had a free weekend since March and the next is Mid-June!  This doesn't even include mid-week meet-ups.

I always enough my time with friends, but I need a weekend to detox. No coffee. No alcohol. No social events. Roll on June!

Stolen Chair

In need of a better a chair I took the liberty of taking one that has been in the corridor outside my office for a couple of days.

Will anyone notice or care?

I'll let you know.

In other news, chess match tonight, tennis on Friday and Lancashire are doing well in the cricket :-)

It's Started!

Okay, this is a post that only one person will get, but I can't speak to everyone all the time!...

"Day one, to me!"

MCF Victory

I picked up 5 out of 6 (only losing to the eventual winner) at this year's Manchester Chess Rapidplay.

I nice trophy and £50 cheque!

Mike

I did it!

I've got the email notifications working on my chess site again. Nothing a bit of ham-fisted programming couldn't fix.

Now to improve the analysis board!